Coin actuated dispenser



J. W. FIELDS COIN ACTUATED DISPENSER March 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14. 1959 FIG.

FIG. 5.

Flc.' 3.

INVENTOR JJJFields ATTORNEYS March 5, 1963 J. w. FIELDS 3,080,037

COIN ACTUATED DISPENSER v Filed Aug. 14. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

INV ENTOR Jld Fie/ds ATTORNEYS March 5, 1953 J. w. FIELDS 3,080,037

COIN ACTUATED DISPENSER Filed Aug. 14, 1959 3 Sheets sheet 3 INV ENTOR JM Fields ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,080,037 Y COIN ACTUATED DISPENSER J olly W. Fields, 2223 Robinson Ave., Portsmouth, Ohio Filed Aug. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 833,896 3 Claims. (Cl. 194S5) The present invention relates to dispensers adapted to furnish a measured supply of roll material; and is more particularly concerned with a postage sta-mp dispenser of novel and simplified configuration, adapted to dispense a predetermined number of postage stamps upon insertion of a coin of proper denomination.

Various forms of check controlled or coin controlled dispensers are known at -the present time. These dispensers ordinarily comprise a structure responsive to the insert-ion of -a coin of Ipreselected denomination and adapted to use said coin itself Ias a portion of the actua-ting mechanism during a dispensing operation. For the most part, structures suggested heretofore, of this gener-al type, have been relatively complex and often unreliable in operation, wherefore they have not found wide favor in dispensing applications.

The present invention, recognizing these difficulties and disadvantages `of check controlled or coin controlled dispensers suggested heretofore, is accordingly concerned with an improved form of dispenser of this general type.

It is accordingly yan object of the .present inventionV to provide an improved form of check controlled or coin controlled dispenser.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved postage sta-mp dispenser which can be manufactured at less `cost than has been possible heretofore.

A yfurther object of the present invention Iresides in the provision of a postage stamp dispenser of new and highly simpliiied construction, which is more reliable in operation and more readily serviced and maintained than has been the case with postage stamp dispensers suggested heretofore.

.A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved postage stamp dispenser comprising, in essence, only two moving parts adapted to be separably interlocked to one another by a coin of proper denomination, whereby a dispensing oper-ation can be `effected only upon insertion of such a coin.

A still further object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of a dispenser structure, particularly adapted for use in dispensing postage stamps.

In providing for the foregoing objects, the present invention contemplates the provision of a dispenser device comprisingv a casing of hollow configuration separable into two parts yfor service and maintenance, and having a generally tubular or hollow cylindrical section adapted to retain, in aligned configuration, two general-ly cylindrical elements. One of -these -two cylindrical elements comprises a unitary structurel having an end portion slotted to receive coins or checks of proper size therein; a pair of spaced portions adapted to cooperate with spring checks for assuring proper alignment of the first cylindrical member in the aforementioned hollow cylindrical casing section; and a further portion having pins, or sprocket projections ladapted to receive complementary perforations in a rolled structure bein-g dispensed, efg. a roll of postage stamps. I l

This first cylindrical structure is adapted to cooperate Agenerally 'cylindrical configuration.

with a second generally cylindrical structure comprising a coin actuator of generally hollow configuration. The coin actuator includes a generally semi-cylindrical portion adapted to extend over part of the end portion of the rst cylindrical ,member having vthe coin receptacles mentioned previously, whereby insertion ofra coin of proper size into one of said coin receptacles permits a driving engagement to Ibe etiiected between the two aforementioned generally cylindrical mem-bers. The coin or check lof proper size is retained in place not only by the walls of -the coin' receptacle slots, but byv -a spindle portion of the second generally cylindrical member; and this spindle portion -further includes means adapted to receive coins of improper size or slugs, lthereby to prevent actuation of the dispenser in the absence of a proper coin.

The aforementioned two cylindrical members are mounted on an axle vdisposed within the housing portion; and the housing portion further includes ridged struc- `tures cooperating with a portion of the first cylindrical member to assure that material being dispensed, e.g. postage stamps, will properly `track on the first cylindrical member.

The highly simplified structure thus provided comprises in essence only two relatively rotatable parts cooperating with one another by having a portion Iof one part inserted into a portion of the second part (ie. the spindle section of the second cylindrical mem-ber inserted into the coin receptacle portion of the `fast cylindrical Imember discussed previously), with these two cylindrical vmembers cooperating further with ridges or Iprojections provided as -a unitary portion of the casing structure, whereby the overall structure is much simpler and more foolproof in operation than has been the case heretofore.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and raccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a ifront view of a lcasing for a dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustra'ting in dotted outline the relative positions of various interior portions of t-he mechanism.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIGURE l illustrating with greater pa-rticul-arity the structure and interrelation of Ithe interior mechanism.

l FIGURE 3 isV a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view showing the configuration and interrelation of the two generally cylindrical parts vemployed in Ithe interior mechanism of the present invention.l

FIGURE 5 -is a perspective view of the overall dispenser.

FIGURE 6 is an illustrative perspective view showin-g the`- front and back portions of the casing separated from one another to illustrate various interior portions of the casing.

FIGURE 7 is a View taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the stamp holder or roll holder utilized in the present invent-ion.

`Referring now to the several figures, it will be seen that the present invention comprises a casingstructur'e lhaving a lower portion 11 (see FIGURE 5) of hollow Atruncated configuration, andan Aupper portion l2 of The housing 10 is dened by two separable portions y(see FIGURE 6) comprising a front portion 13 having a generally planar base 14 defining an elongated ridge 15 adapted to receive the lower end 16 of a rear housing portion 17. The front portion 3.3 of the casing includes an elongated slot 18 adapted to receive an externally extending actuating arm to be described hereinafter; and said front portion "t3 of the casing further includes an elongated slot 19 spaced from and extending transverse to slot l and adapted to permit egress of roll material being dispensed, eg.V postage stamps.

The end portions of the casing (not shown in FIG- URE 6) comprise end plates such as 2t? (see FIGURES 2 and 5) which may be iixedly attached to the front portion 13 of the casingmd said end plates 20 support an elongated axle 2l on which is mounted the internal actuating structure to be described hereinafter'.V The upper portions of the front and rear sections 13 and 17 vof the casing include projecting members 22 and 23 of complementary conguration, having aligned holes Z4 and 25 adapted to receive an appropriate lock device Vfor retaining the two vsections of the housing in locked configuration relative to one another. The front projection 22 further includes a circular aperture 26 adapted to receive a coin or check of proper size or denomination, cooperating with an elongated recess 27 in the rear projection 23, whereby a coin inserted into aperture 26 may enter a slot 23 in the rear casing portion 17 and thereafter enter the interior of the casing for purposes to be described. y

The lower truncated portion of the casing 11 is adapted to act as a coin holder for retaining checks or coins inserted into the machine after operation of the machine; and said lower portion 11 is further adapted to receive and retain a postage stamp or similar roll material holder 29 (see FIGURE 3), separable into two parts 29a and 2gb (see FIGURE 8). The two sections of the stamp holder are adapted to be snapped together through the agency of projecting pins 3G on one section and complementary recesses 3l on the other section; and the upper portions of the two sections 29a and 29h define recesses 32a and 32h complementary to one another and forming an exi-t slot 32 for receiving a length 33 (see FIGURE 3) of material, e..g. postage stamps extending from a roll 34 of such material disposed within the holder 29. As is best illustrated in FIGURES l and 2,

'the postage stamp holder 29 is mounted in the lower section Il of the case at a position between a pair of spring checks 35 and 36 which are attached (sce FIGURE 6) to the front portion 13 of the casing at positions on opposite sides of the Velongated stamp egress aperture 19;

and the spring checks 35 and 36 include internal coil Vsprings 37, the tension of which may be adjusted by set drical parts; and these two parts are best illustrated in FIGURE 4. The first part, designated generally as 41,

'comprises a unitary structure having a pair of spaced apart generally annular contact periphery portions 42 and 43, and these ltwo portions 42 and 43 have their outer surfaces grooved by a plurality of grooves 44 and 45 adapted to receive the pins 39 and 4u of the spring checks 35 and 36 mentioned previously. Between the two contact periphery sections 42 and 43 is disposed a stamp periphery section 46 of somewhat smaller diameter, hav-V ing a plurality of projecting pins 47 adapted .to receive perforations such as 4S (see FIGURE 2) in thelength of postage stamps 33. A pair of grooves 49 and 50 are provided in stamp periphery por-tion 46 for purposes to be described hereinafter. The end portion of the cylindrical member 41 includes as a unitary part thereof a hollow cylindrical coin receptacle 51 having a plurality of slots 52 uniformly spaced about the periphery thereof; and each said slot is open at its top to receive a coin entering through slot ZS in the Vrear section 17 of the housing, and is further open at its bottom. The entire unit 41 may be constructed of generally hollow configuration, but is preferably provided with interior walls such as 53 having a centrally disposed aperture 54 therein for reception of the axle 21.

The cylindrical member 41 cooperates with a second cylindrical member, illustrated in FIGURE 4, and generally designated as 55,. This second cylindrical member comprises a coin actuator and includes `a hollow cylindrical body 56 having an end wall 57 and also including a central aperture 5S for the reception of axle 2i. The cylindrical portion 56 further includes a projecting actuating arm 59 adapted to extend through the slot 18 in the front section 13 of the housing.

Coin actuator 55 includes a centrally disposed hollow spindle 60 adapted to extend into the hollow central portion of coin receptacle portion 51 on unit 41 whereby coins inserted 'into the top of each of the slots 52 in said coin receptacle portion are prevented from falling through the bottom of the slots by the external peripheral surface of the spindle 6i). In addition, actuator 55 includes a sernicircular or arcuate actuating arm 61 adapted to extend over the outer peripheral surface of coin receptacle 'portion 51 for purposes to be described hereinafter.

The upper end of arcuate larm 6l is disposed slightly forward of a slot 62 provided in the spindle 60 (see FIG- URES 4 and 7), and slot 62 is, `as will be described, adapted to receive coins of improper size to prevent such coins from interfering with or improperly actuating the dispenser. The spindle 60 is, as mentioned previously, hollow and communicates directly with the hollow cylindrical portion 56 of actuator 55. Hollow cylindrical portion 56 includes a funther opening 63 in its lower portion whereby coins entering slot 62 are adapted to pass through the hollow center of coin actuator unit 55 to opening 63 and thereafter fall into the bottom portion 11 of lthe casing, without 'actuating the mechanism. Cylindrical portion 56 further includes, on the interior thereof, a weight 64 adapted to return the coin actuator 55 to a position on the interior of the casing wherein the actuating 'arm 59 is disposed adjacent the uppermost part of slot 18; but it will be appreciated that the weight 64 could be replaced by appropriate spring'retmn structures if such be desired.

The interior of the casing described previously includes ,a plurality of projections on both the back and front portions thereof. The rear pontion 17 of the casing includes three outstanding projections comprising two outer projections 65 and 66 as Well as a third ridge or projection 67 disposed between the two projections 65 and 66. The three ridges yor projections 65 through 67, on the rear portion 17 of the casing, lare all of substantially the same height; and this Y height is preferably chosen so that the innermost peripheral edges of vthe pro ject-ions 6:5l through 67 do not project into grooves 49 and 50 but lie below the tops of pins 47 and immediately `above the outer surface of `stamp periphery portion 46.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the three ridges 65 through 67 tend to hold the stamps on the pins 47; and

in addition, the edges of saidstamps yare prevented from moving in lateral directions by lthe walls or shoulders. provided between'the larger diameter cont-act periphery portions 42 and 43 'and the somewhat lesser diameter stamp periphery porti-on 46. f

The projections 65 through 67 include complementary ridges or projections 65a through 67a on the front portion 13 of the casing; with these complementary ridges or projections 65a through 67a terminating closely adjacent to the top of slot i9. The ridges 65:1--6'7 are of the same 3 height ras ridges 65-67, and serve the 'same purpose, i.e. to hold the stamps on pins -47 at locations above slot 19.

A pair of further ridges or projections 68 and 69 extend from the bottom of slot 19 to the bottom of the semicylindrical portion of front housing section 13. These ridges or projections 68 and A69 are adapted to enter ridges -49 and 50 on the stamp periphery portion 46 of unit 41, i.e. they have a greater lheight than any of the ridges or projections 65a through 67a whereby stamps tend to -be peeled ott the stamp periphery portion 46 and pass out of stamp slot 1'9 upon actuation of the mechanism.

The overall interrelation of the several parts and operation of the device is as follows: one employing the mechanism first unlocks the locking mechanism in apertures 24-25 and separates the rear -and front casing sections 13 and 17 from one another. The stamp holder 29 is thereafter removed, separated, and a noll of stamps placed therein, with the end of said roll projecting out of slot 32. This length of stamps :is then withdrawn and threaded over the projecting pins 47 on stamp periphery portion 46 of unit 41, and lunder ridges 65--67 and 65a-67a, until the outermost end of the roll of stamps is disposed closely adjacent rt-o stamp exit aperture 19 on the front portion of 'the casing. The casing is then closed and locked, wit-h the cylindrical members 41 and 55 being disposed in laligned relation to one another, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. This aligned relation is maintained by actuating arm 59 extending through slot 18 in the front surface of the casing as well as by projections or ridges 68 and 69, disposed within grooves 49 and 50 of unit 41; and the stamps on the periphery of portion 46 are also #held in position by the action of ridges or projections 65-67, (55u-67a, land the walls between portion 46 and adjacent portions 42 and 43, -as already described. In addition, the unit 41 is held against rotation by spring checks 35 and 36, and particularly by spring bias plungers 39 'and 40 thereof, which -are disposed within a pair of Ialigned grooves 44 and 45 on peripheral portions 42 and 43 of the unit 41.

For this Iinitial condition, it will be noted that coin actuator 55 is free to rotate and the actuating arm 59 may be moved downwardly in slot 18 to effect rotation of spindle 60 within the interior of coin receptacle prortion 51. Such rotation of vactuator' 55 causes arcuate actuating farm 61 to pass over the exterior surface of coin receptacle portion 51 on unit 41, in spaced relation thereto; but there is no driving connection between the units 41 and `5S, whereby movement of actuating arm 59 is ineffectual to produce -any rotation of unit 41.

1f now a coin of .proper denomination is inserted into aperture 26, this coin passes through slot 28 into one of the coin receptacles 52, which yat this time is aligned directly under slot 2S. The slots 52 are intentionally made slightly wider than the coin to be received therein, whereby said coin enters freely; and the bott-om of the coin is held within the slot 52 by the spindle 6i? of coin actuator 55 which underlies the open Ibottom Iof each coin slot 52.

It a coin of proper denomination has been inserted, the uppermost portion of the coin projects above the upper open end of its slot 52 into a position overlying and spaced from the upper end of arcuate actuating arm .61 of coin actuator 56 (see FIGURE 2), and is held in this position by lthe spindle 60, as mentioned previously. The uppermost end of actuating arm 61 is disposed slightly to the rear of the uppermost slot 52 in coin receptacle 51 when actuating arm 59 is in its uppermost position, whereby entry of a coin into one of the slots 52 is not impeded by the actuating arm 61. If now the actuating arm 59 should be depressed in slot 18, the coin lactuator' 55 moves freely for a small distance corresponding to the rearward spacing of actuating arm 61 from the uppermost coin slot 52, Whereafter the upper end 'of arm 61 contacts the projecting portion of the coin in slot 52. Further depression of actuating arm 59 thus causes rotation of unit 41 by the driving connection effected through the -units 41 and 55 through the coin interposed therebetween; and the drive is such that -the spring checks '35 and 36 are snapped out of the grooves 44 and 45 and ride along the outer periphery of portions 42 and 43 'between adjacent grooves 44 and 45. This action continues as the actuating arm 59 'is depressed all .the way to the bottom of slot 18 in the front portion 13 of the housing; and upon full depression of actuating arm 59, a proper number of stamps are peeled ott the .roll by ridges 6S-69, and are dispensed through the stamp aperture 19.

At the bottom of the stroke of actuator arm 59 the coin,y

which is relatively loosely held in the ysomewhat enlarged slot 52, falls freely from the slot under the forces of gravity and then drops into the ,lower portion .-11 of the casing. In addition, spring checks 35 and 36 snap into the next pair of grooves 44 and `45 Ato hold the unit 41 against further rotation. The dispensed stamps may now be severed .along -the line ot perforations disposed adjacent stamp aperture 19, and the force of spring checks 35 and 36 prevent the operator from merely grasping the projecting `roll .of stamps and effecting further rotation of the unit 41. Moreover, since the coin has now vfallen out of its associated slot v52, there `is no :longer any driv ing connection between the units 41 and 55; and release of the actuating arm 59 permits weight 64 'to rotate the coin actuator 55 'back to a :position wherein actuator arm 59 is disposed adjacent the top of the slot 218. Further vactuation of the device may now be effected by inserting a further coin of proper denomination into the next slot 52 in Vthe coin receptacle 51 which, dueto the kpreviously described rotation of unit 41, is now disposed directly below the slot 28.

It will be appreciated that the aforementioned operaltion can occur Vonly if a coin of, proper denomination is inserted. 'Insertion of vcoins having too ylarge a v`size is prevented lby the sizeof opening 26'ir1'the coin-receiving portion 22 on the rront section 13 of the `housing. Moreover, if a coin or check .of vtoo .small a-size is inserted, this coin will enter a slot 52 but will vbe of insufficient size to project out of the upper end of slot 52 adjacent the facing portion of actuating arm V61 asy described` Accordingly,

upon insertion of a coin or check having too-small a size,

the coin will, as before, Ybe initially retained in position within slot 52 Aby spindle 60. However, subsequent depression of actuator arm 59 will move =*aperture 62 into a position below the slot 52 .uppermost inthe mechanism and the improperly sized coin `or :check will then 'fall into opening I'62, and into the `interior of the coin actuator ,55, whereupon further .rotation Vof .coin `actuator S55 will vpermit the improperly sized check .or coin .to fall out of the bottom opening 63 directly into the lower portion 11 of the casing without actuating the mechanism.

In order to `facilitate this movement of an improperly sized coin on the interior of `coin actuatorSS, Yone of the interior walls of the coin actuator is preferably inclined as at 70 (see FIGURE 2)., thus permitting the improperly sized coin to roll toward exit opening 63 Vafter .it falls into hollow spindle 60,

VIt will be -noted that the ymechanism thus described is of extremely simple configuration; and since the several portions thereof may all be hollow, the device isextremo ly lightweight in construction and `may be readilyrnauufactored. Notwithstanding its simplicity, the device 'assures that actuation can be .effected only upon insertion of a coin of proper size 4and is'designed toautomatically eject improperly -sized checks. The ridgesor projections on the interior of the case, cooperating with the stamp periphery section and grooves of unit 41, providean extremely etiicient structure for holding the stamps iny place. 'In particular, it will be noted that as the postage stamps feed onto the pins 47, they are held on these fpins by all three ridges. These three ridges Icannot dig into ithe stamps since they are maintained at a constant distance from stamp periphery section 46; and moreover, the only pressure tending to pull the stamps ot of the pins 47 is that of the stamps themselves rubbing against the three ridges 65 through 67 as the stamps tend to spring up -from the stamp periphery section 46, due to the previously coiled conguration of said stamps.

The movement of arcuate arm 61 over the outer pe- VIiphery of ycoin receptacle 52 assures that a coin can be deposited into a coin receptacle slot only when the coin 'actuator handle is virtually at the top of its slot 18, thereby assuring that once a coin is inserted into the device, further coins cannot be improperly inserted until after the device has completed a dispensing operation. IIn addition, any wear o-f the uppermost end of arcuate actuating arm 61-due to contact of this arm 61 with coins inserted into the device, Yis compensated by similar wear of the actuator arm 59 and/ or the bottom of slot i8; and 4as a result, adjustment for wear is virtually eliminated, Ythereby assuring that the device operates properly over long periods of time, notwithstanding wear in the device.

The relationship of the spring checks and their associated slots 44 and' 45 is such that the spring checks snap into their associated slots'or troughs '44 and 45 just as the coin actuator handle 59 hits the bottom of its slot 18; and this in turn assures that the next coin receptacle 52 is properly alignedV for a subsequent dispensing operation, and further assures' that after a given dispensing operation has been completed the device may not be improperly actuated from the exterior by grasping and pulling on a length of stamps protruding from stamp slotr19. The case and internal mechanism, moreover, are designed to `support one another, whereby the overall structure has considerable strength, notwithstanding its simple and inexpensive configuration.

While I have thus'described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art, and various refinements vmay be made therein without departing from the spirit Yof the present invention. By way of example, counter vdevices comprising, for instance, an elongated numbered tape adapted to move with rotation of unit 41 and adapted to exhibit through an aperture in the casing the `number of stamps still remaining in a roll, can be provided if desired; and the hollow construction of the casing permits such a stamp counter to be employed with- 'out Ymodifying any of the other parts of the structure. Still other variations will be suggested to those skilled intheart, and it must therefore be understood that the foregoing description is meant to be illustrative only and should not be Vconsidered'limitative of my invention. All such modifications `and variations as are in accord with the principles describedY are meant to fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claimz' Y 1. A coin-controlled actuating and reject mechanism Ycomprising tirst and. second rotatable substantially cyiindrical memfbersfdisposed in aligned coaxial relation toone another, said first cylindrical member including a hollow cylindrical 'annular' section; having ,a coin-receiving slot in the periphery thereof, lsaid slot being open at both the top Yand bottomv thereof, said second cylindrical member including a hollow-centeredk substantially cylindricalrspindle adapted to be disposed within said hollow cylindricalannular section adjacent the open bottom of said slot whereby a coin inserted vinto the open top of said slot is prevented from falling from the open bottom .of said slot bythe external peripheral surface of .said hollow spindle, said second cylindrical member further including a projecting portion overlying a portion of the external periphery of said hollow cylindrical annular lsection and adaptedto engage-a portion of a coin pro- ;rjecting fromv the open top of said slot to efect rotation .ofus'aid first-cylindrical @member with rotation of said sec- 1ond cylindrical member, and an aperture in said spindle communicating with the hollow center thereof and adapted to pass an object, inserted into said slot and not engaged by said projecting portion during rotation vnembers disposed therein in aligned coaxial relation to one another, said iirst cylindrical member including a hollow cylindrical annular section attached to one end thereof and having a plurality of slots spaced about the Vperiphery thereof, each of said slots being open at both the top and bottom thereof, said second cylindrical mernlber including a substantially cylindrical spindle adapted to be disposed within said hollow cylindrical annular section adjacent the open bottoms of said slots whereby a coin inserted into the open top of one of said slots is prevented from falling from the open bottom of saidV slot by the external peripheral surface of said spindle, said second cylindrical member further including a projecting portion adapted to overlie a portion of the external periphery of said hollow cylindrical annular section, means for inserting a coin into one of said slots, means for rotating said second cylindrical member whereby said overlying projecting portion of said second cylindrical member is adapted to engage a portion of said coin projecting from the open top of said slot thereby to eiect rotation of said first cylindrical member with rotation or" said second cylindrical member, said spindle including a hollow section, and an aperture in said spindle opening into said hollow section and disposed under said projecting portion at a position removed from the leading edge of said projecting portion whereby an object inserted into one of said slots and not engaged by said leading edge of said projecting portion drops from the bottom of said slot through said aperture into said hollow spindle section upon continued rotation of said second cylindrical member.

3. A postage stamp dispenser comprising a housing havingan arcuate wall section, a cylindrical member rotatably disposed within said housing, said cylindrical member having an outer arcuate periphery including at least one annular groove disposed closely adjacent said arcuate wall section, said housing wall section including at least one protruding arcuate ridge extending into said groove, said cylindrical member including a further arcuate peripheral section adjacent one endthereof having a plurality of coin receiving slots therein, said one end being hollow whereby said slots are open at both their tops and bottoms, an actuating member comprising a rotatable relatively short spindle having a free end removably inserted into said hol-low one end of said cylindrical member, the external surface of said spindle being disposed closely adjacent the open bottoms of said slots to Yeiectively closesaid open bottoms, said actuating member further including an arcuate projection overlying a portion of said further peripheral. section whereby some of said slots have their tops open for the admission of a coin, said actuating member comprising said spindle and said arcuate projection thereby partially surrounding said further arcuate peripheral section and beupper portion of said coin extending sufciently above the outer periphery of said further arcuate peripheral section to be engaged and held by the arcuate projection of said actuating member thereby to eect a driving engagement between said rotating actuating member and said rotatable cylindrical member, and means responsive to a rotation of said actuating member which fails to :so trap a coin for ejecting a coin of improper size inserted into one of said open topped slots.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Walter Feb. 28, 1911 Noel Oct. 22, 1912 Dimmock Dec. 18, 1917 Glover Feb. 1, 1921 Klostermann Mar. 8, 1932 Brecht June 14, 1932 Singer June 17, 1952 Guny Jan. 11, 1955 Hanson Jan. 24, 1956 

1. A COIN-CONTROLLED ACTUATING AND REJECT MECHANISM COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ROTATABLE SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS DISPOSED IN ALIGNED COAXIAL RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER INCLUDING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL ANNULAR SECTION HAVING A COIN-RECEIVING SLOT IN THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID SLOT BEING OPEN AT BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL MEMBER INCLUDING A HOLLOW-CENTERED SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SPINDLE ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL ANNULAR SECTION ADJACENT THE OPEN BOTTOM OF SAID SLOT WHEREBY A COIN INSERTED INTO THE OPEN TOP OF SAID SLOT IS PREVENTED FROM FALLING FROM THE OPEN BOTTOM OF SAID SLOT BY THE EXTERNAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID HOLLOW SPINDLE, SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL MEMBER FURTHER INCLUDING A PROJECTING PORTION OVERLYING A PORTION OF THE EXTERNAL PERIPHERY OF SAID HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL ANNULAR SECTION AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A PORTION OF A COIN PROJECTING FROM THE OPEN TOP OF SAID SLOT TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER WITH ROTATION OF SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, AND AN APERTURE IN SAID SPINDLE COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOLLOW CENTER THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO PASS AN OBJECT, INSERTED INTO SAID SLOT AND NOT ENGAGED BY SAID PROJECTING PORTION DURING ROTATION OF SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, OUT OF SAID SLOT AND INTO SAID HOLLOW-CENTERED SPINDLE THEREBY TO EFFECT REJECTION OF SUCH OBJECTS FROM SAID SLOT. 